Aristotle

I took a History of Philosophy class at BYU and was much impressed by some of the teachings of Aristotle. The theme that impacted me most was the idea that the way of true happiness lies in living a virtuous life according to the pursuit of the highest good, regardless of hardship. Lesser happiness lies in the pursuit of lesser ideals. For example, the world may consider a man happy who strives for and attains riches, but as this is not man's highest ideal we know that this individual cannot truly be happy.

From a gospel perspective, there are many striving for the ideals of the terrestrial or even telestial kingdoms, who seek for riches or power or the fine-twined linens we have all seen around us; there are those who fruitlessly seek happiness even in the depravity of their own lusts. But, although they may seemingly attain a sort of fulfillment or even transient contentment from such pursuits, we may know with a surety--for it is a law!--that such persons feel within themselves a hollowness, what the late Neil Maxwell called the "emptiness and boredom of secularism." These people do not understand the purpose of their existence, and although they certainly would not admit this to anyone else, their spirits recognize the departure from their ordained course. Their wickedness never was, nor ever can be, true happiness, and neither can our wickedness, however slight or glaring, ever result in anything but misery.

We must hold fast to the vision of our own exaltation which the Holy Ghost plants, through the spirit of prophecy and revelation, into our hearts. We must be "sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." We must overcome the world, or we ourselves will be overcome.